Set for the Home Opener

Thursday, November 7

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

Charleston Southern

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Jasai Miles went for 11 points and nine boards Monday at South Carolina.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

11/6/2024 10:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Ospreys Host Charleston Southern on Military Appreciation Night

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Riding the program's first-ever win against an SEC program, North Florida men's basketball prepares for its home opener against Charleston Southern tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

It will be Military Appreciation Night as the Ospreys play one of three games at the Nest this month. UNF is 13-2 in home openers under head coach Matthew Driscoll in his 16 years at the helm with North Florida.

GAME DETAILS
Who | North Florida vs. Charleston Southern
What | 2024-25 Home Opener
When | Thursday, Nov. 7
Where | Jacksonville, Fla. | UNF Arena
Coverage | Watch on ESPN+

Projected Starters
Sophomore, Guard | Jaylen Smith
Senior, Guard | Oscar Berry
Sophomore, Guard | Jasai Miles
Senior, Guard | Nate Lliteras
Freshman, Forward | Josh Harris

Coach Driscoll on The Home Opener
"Season openers are always so exciting at The Nest, while also being Military Appreciation Night, which is an incredible opportunity for us to give thanks and share our gratitude for those who have served and are serving. Our group has really been committed to staying in the present and focusing on getting better daily. Charleston Southern is one of the more experienced programs we go up against in the non-conference slate, as they return a lot of scoring, rebounding and added depth in the transfer portal. They also shoot the three really well and play an up-tempo game, making for added pressure on your transition defense. We can't wait to see you at The Nest tonight!" -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

Last Time Out
COLUMBIA, S.C. - North Florida men's basketball wasted no time making headlines in 2024-25 as the Ospreys (1-0), went into South Carolina and stunned the Gamecocks (0-1), 74-71, to earn the program's first-ever win against an SEC program. It was also UNF's third win against a Power Four team all-time and first since defeating Illinois, 93-81, in Champaign, Ill., Nov. 13, 2015. UNF outscored South Carolina, 15-7, down the stretch, overcoming a five-point deficit after the final media timeout.

Series History
North Florida and Charleston Southern are meeting for the sixth time … UNF is 3-2 all-time against Charleston Southern … UNF is 1-1 at home against the Buccaneers … the last time UNF hosted CSU was in a Dec. 15, 2018 victory … UNF is coming off an 81-70 win in Charleston last year, its largest margin of victory in the head-to-head series.

The Familiar Faces
North Florida men's basketball returns five players, all of which started the majority of last year's games or have been a starter throughout their collegiate career … Nate Lliteras started the most games among all returners, tallying 31 starts in 31 contests while averaging 10.4 points per game, the most among returning players … Jaylen Smith was thrust into the starting point guard position last year after junior guard Ametri Moss suffered a season-ending injury at the start of league play … the lefty guard out of Ocoee, Fla., went on to earn all-freshman honors from the conference … Oscar Berry is the most veteran Osprey in the Navy and Gray this year, having played two years with UNF after starting out his collegiate career at Fairleigh-Dickinson … after making his first collegiate start not far from home in Coral Gables last December, now-sophomore Jasai Miles returns after making 19 starts and averaging 5.7 points per game.

Rundown on the Newcomers
UNF's roster features eight newcomers, not including redshirt-freshman Mason Lee who sat last year out after joining UNF from nearby Providence School of Jacksonville … four are true freshmen, including Josh Harris, Arden Begaj, Taylor Thompson and Dante Oliver … the other four newcomers bring in significant experience as transfers, two of which have already earned degrees in Liam Murphy and Nestor Dyachok … Murphy put up 12 points and seven boards a game at Columbia as a freshman, while Dyachok scored over nine points per game for Southern Utah … Alex Vargo joins the Ospreys by way of Garrett College, scoring over 26 points per game while lighting up Southern Maryland for 47 in a single contest … he started his collegiate career at Youngstown State after scoring 1,634 points at Wheeling Park HS … sharpshooter Kamrin Oriol comes back to his home state of Florida after earning league freshman of the year honors in 2022-23 … he was named conference player of the week once last season.

Scouting the Opponent
Charleston Southern is coming off a 91-64 loss at Clemson Monday … three CSU players were named to the all-conference team, with Taje' Kelly earning first team honors among that group … CSU was tabbed fifth in the preseason poll … Charleston Southern returns its top four scorers from a year ago … Saah Nimley is at the start of his first full year at the helm for Charleston Southern after taking over in the middle of the 2023-24 season.